Teitur Lassen

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Teitur
Teitur
Background information
Birth name	Teitur Lassen
Born	1977
Origin	Hoyvík, Faroe Islands
Genre(s)	Pop, Folk music, Rock music
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Years active	2003–present
Label(s)	Universal Records, Arlo & Betty Records, Equator Records, Tutl
Website	www.teitur.com

Teitur (pronounced [ˈtaitʊɹ]) (born Teitur Lassen 1977 in Hoyvík) is a singer-songwriter from the Faroe Islands. On March 3, 2007, he was awarded Best Male Singer at the Danish Music Awards.

The word teitur is Old Norse and means happy. In Modern Faroese, it is archaic but used as a male given name.

Teitur started out in the Faroese pop/rock band Mark No Limits as its lead singer and songwriter. After quickly gaining a reputation at home, Teitur left the Faroe Islands for Copenhagen at 17, finding both his voice and a succession of helping hands all over Europe and North America. He dedicated himself to playing and writing music in English full-time, and soon caught the attention of former BMI executive Christian Ulf-Hansen at the Danish music festival, SPOT, who quickly signed on as manager.

1 Debut release
2 Industry support
3 Changing gears
4 Homecoming record
5 The Singer
6 Discography
- 6.1 Albums
- 6.2 Guest appearances
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Debut release

After finding both a publishing deal and a record contract with Universal Records, the Faroe Islands awarded him its 2004 "Businessman of the Year". His first major album, Poetry & Aeroplanes, released in 2003, was recorded in Los Angeles and Spain and featured a number of prominent studio musicians and the production of Rupert Hine. Within months of its debut, the record found a following among many of popular music's inner circle. Industry buzz led to opening slots on tours with Suzanne Vega, Glen Phillips, Aimee Mann, and John Mayer. His sound and style is similar to the singer/songwriter Chester Travis.

Teitur was featured on MTV's You Heard it First program. While not picked up by mainstream radio, several of the songs on Poetry & Aeroplanes found airplay on major television and motion picture soundtracks, most recently in the 2006 films Aquamarine and My Super Ex-Girlfriend.

[edit] Industry support

In spite of the album's critical acclaim and growing grassroots popularity, Teitur failed to receive any significant industry support, leading to limited sales and growing frustration among his fans. Armed with a limited budget, and a small but devoted fan-base, Teitur played over 300 shows in the year following his debut. In a September 2004 article in Esquire, fellow singer John Mayer came to Teitur's defense, stating that "the problem with watching it get smaller and smaller in my rear-view mirror is that it may be one of the best albums to come around in the last five years."^{[citation needed]} Mayer concluded that the "record company's complete lack of vision for his career, has contributed to his warming the bench at Universal Records." Yet while his record sat unplayed in most American radio stations, word of mouth fan support allowed Teitur to continue touring through 2005.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Changing gears

On April 20, 2006, Teitur's management issued a statement that he had dropped Universal as his record label following months of legal problems and creative differences. His second studio record Stay Under the Stars, produced by Martin Terefe, was released in May 2006 in Scandinavia on the indie label Playground Music. After spending several months in the Danish Top-40, the album was released in the U.S. and Canada on September 5, 2006 on the newly formed Equator Records, and on iTunes on September 8, 2006. The rhythm section on Stay Under the Stars consists of Derek Murphy, drums, and Mikael Blak, bass.

[edit] Homecoming record

According to an October 12, 2006 article in the Faroese newspaper Sosialurin, Teitur's next record will be in the Faroese language, and will be released only in the Faroe Islands and Iceland. It is planned that Teitur will tour each corner of his tiny motherland in its support. ^[1].

The album was published at the Faroese label Tutl on May 14, 2007 under the title Káta Hornið.^[2]

[edit] The Singer

On September 17, 2007, Teitur announced on his Myspace page that he is getting set to record a new album starting in October of 2007.

The recording studio was located on the island of Gotland, former home and dying place of world-renowned director Ingmar Bergman.

On January 21, 2008, Teitur announced more details concerning the album through his Myspace page. The album is titled "The Singer" and will be released in Scandinavia on the February 11, 2008, and in March/April 2008 in the rest of world^[3].

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Album	Information
The Singer	Scandinavian Release: February 11, 2008. Worldwide Release: March/April, 2008. iTunes Release: February 2008. Label: Arlo & Betty.
Káta Hornið	Studio album. Released: 14 May 2007 only in the Faroe Islands and Iceland. Label: Tutl.
Stay Under the Stars	Studio album. Released: September 5, 2006. iTunes Release: September 8, 2006. Label: Equator Records. Producer: Martin Terefe.
Poetry & Aeroplanes	Released: July 2003. iTunes Release: September 2003. Label: Universal Music. Producer: Rupert Hine.
Aquamarine Motion Picture Soundtrack	Released: February 21, 2006. Track on Album: "One and Only (Poetry & Aeroplanes)".
My Super Ex-Girlfriend	My Super Ex-Girlfriend (movie) Soundtrack. Released: August 1, 2006. Track on Album: "One and Only (Poetry & Aeroplanes)".
Corinne Bailey Rae	Co-writer of the song "Choux Pastry Heart". Album 2X Platinum in UK. Released: February 21, 2006.